Olympic Opposition Files: Brazil Set To Meet South Africa

With Brazil set open their quest for gold at the Rio games on Thursday, Brasil Global Tour takes a closer look at the Selecao's first opponents

Nickname: Amaglug-glug  Capital: Tshwane  Top Goalscorer: Bongani Ndulula (15)  Most Caps: Matthew Booth (35)

Da Gama had not coached at national team level until two years ago when he was appointed Shakes Mashaba’s assistant and later head coach of South Africa. However, he boasts 24 years of coaching experience in a career that began in 1992. It was at Platinum Stars where Da Gama enjoyed huge success, guiding them to a Premier Soccer League (PSL) promotion and a Coca Cola Cup final in 2002 and 2003 respectively.

He left Stars soon after helping them win their first major trophy – the Telkom Knockout Cup in 2006 – to join one of South Africa’s biggest clubs, Orlando Pirates, in 2008. At the time, he became the only second South African-born boss to coach the club since the inception of the PSL in the 1996-97 season.

ODG quit the Buccaneers eight months later, and had spells with a few South African clubs, before he was recruited by Mashaba in 2014. The 54-year-old is the second coach to steer the Under-23 side to Olympic Games qualification, emulating Mashaba, who helped SA secure a spot in the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney and later masterminded Brazil’s downfall in the group stages of the same competition.

Mothiba has a bright future. He’s one of the few South African-born footballers who has launched a professional career abroad. While at Diambars Soccer Academy in Boksburg, Johannesburg in 2013, French Ligue 1 outfit Lille sent one of their scouts to South Africa. At the time, Mothiba was nursing an ankle injury so never got a chance to impress, but was recommended by one of the coaches and later underwent a successful trial in France.

Mothiba is a big and strong striker with an eye for goal. With adequate supply, Mothiba could be one of the tournament’s top goalscorers. His international break came in 2015 when Da Gama called him up to the U23 squad for a friendly against Tunisia. Mothiba hit a brace to inspire his side to a 4-0 win over the North Africans. The 20-year-old is yet to make a mark in Europe, but his star is certainly on the rise.

Dolly has become increasingly important to the South African U23 team over the past 12 months. Despite being initially overlooked by senior national team selectors, Dolly never allowed that to discourage him. Instead, he worked even harder for recognition and ultimately helped the team qualify for the Africa Cup of Nations in Senegal in 2015. The 23-year-old was then influential as Amaglug-glug defied the odds and beat Senegal in the 3rd-4th play-off match to qualify for the Olympics for the first time in 16 years.

An experienced campaigner, having played a pivotal role in helping his team, Mamelodi Sundowns, reach the semi-finals of the ongoing 2016 CAF Champions League, Dolly is now also a regular member of the senior national team squad. His abilities to create goalscoring opportunities, dribble past opponents and score have made him a fan favourite. He will captain South Africa at the Olympics.

Ernest Makhaya - Goal South Africa

Following their failure to qualify for the 2012 London Olympics, a new coach has counted on the support from all the PSL bosses, asking them to believe in their youngsters and give them regular game time, as well as the backing of the association to reach greater heights. The arrival of Da Gama has given South Africa hope and restored some lost pride, but this is just the beginning.

The spine of the team looks very good, with the experience of Itumeleng Khune, who played for Bafana Bafana during the 2009 Confederations Cup and 2010 World Cup on home soil, as well as Erick Mathoho, who’s one of the best and most consistent centre-backs in the country.

The defence looked very shaky and was easily penetrated during the CAF U23 African Cup last year. The four goals recently conceded against Brazil in an international friendly were definitely a wake-up call, but ODG can aim high with Mathoho and Kwanda Mngonyama as his centre-backs.

Keagan Dolly is in good shape, while a few others, including Gift Motupa, Menzi Masuku, Abbubaker Mobara and Tashreeq Morris are also potential threats. What excites me the most is that team recently won the 2016 COSAFA Cup tournament, and all the players stand a good chance of graduating to the senior national team, which should be motivation enough for them to go all out. With the 2018 World Cup qualifiers around the corner, we can expect to see a competitive South African side that has got nothing to lose and everything to gain.

..... - Goal